In Ivory Coast, police harass pro-Ouattara editors

New York, February 18, 2011--Ivorian police in the economic capital, Abidjan, interrogated and issued summonses for questioning this week for editors of newspapers favorable toformer presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara, according to local journalists. The U.N. has recognized Ouattara as the president-elect since disputed November 2010 runoff elections against President Laurent Gbagbo.

Police and an assistant
prosecutor questioned Editor Yacouba Kébé of Nord-Sud, and Le
Nouveau RéveilEditor Patrice Yao and reporter Tiémoko
Antoine Assalétoday about several stories
in their newspapers that reported statements made by the Ouattara camp, and
accused them of "calling the army to mutiny, inciting the public not to
recognize the authorities, and inciting hatred and violence," Kébé told
CPJ. The journalists denied the
accusations to CPJ, saying they were reporting facts.

In an ongoing struggle to gain power over the media, Gbagbo
issued a decree on February 4
that sacked
the head
of Ivory Coast's official print media regulator, the National Press Council (CNP), and dismissed its board, according to news reports.

"After seizing control of the print
media regulatory agency, the administration of President Laurent Gbagbo is now using
the police to harass newspapers favorable to Alassane Ouattara," said CPJ
Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We condemn these actions and call
on the administration to adhere to the constitution, which guarantees press
freedom."

Several editors of pro-opposition Ivorian newspapers--including dailies Le Démocrate and Le Jour Plus--have received police summonses since Thursday over
coverage favorable
to Ouattara, according to local press freedom group Ivorian Committee for the
Protection of Journalists.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jacob Kessi's name has been corrected to Yacouba Kébé. Jacob Kessi is his pen name.